True American Pride - Real Things to Celebrate About This Nation (#14)

 Coming down the home stretch...here you go...

#26: JUNE 26: AMERICANA: GOOD ALL BLUE JEANS

"Jeans represent democracy in fashion." (Giorgio Armani)

So true. As my month of celebrating True American Things to be Proud of starts to come to its end, I couldn't help but include an entry on this classic piece of American fashion and culture. For Entry #26, I celebrate blue jeans. If there's one single piece of clothing that it's safe to say ALL Americans, no matter what race, gender, religion, economic class, or even age, have worn at one time in their life, it is these sturdy trousers.

The design that is the forefather of all of today's current versions of "blue jeans" was patented by Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis in 1873. Originally intended to be the "working man's" pants, worn by factory workers, miners, farmers, cowboys, etc. (which by the way is why my father NEVER let me wear jeans to class when I was in high school!), Strauss and Davis' creation morphed into a much broader fashion and cultural statement in the 1950's and then again in the 1980's, and is still growing strong today. They became to be seen, as Armani said above, as a statement of "democracy" and "equality".

So whether you prefer Levis, Wranglers, Lee, Calvin Kleins, Diesel, True Religion, Pepe, Nudie, or Guess jeans...cheers to the jeans and to this classic piece of Americana

"The whole world loves American movies, blue jeans, jazz and rock and roll. It is probably a better way to get to know our country than by what politicians or airline commercials represent." (Billy Joel)

#27: JUNE 27: A GREAT PATRIOT - THOMAS PAINE

"THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated." (Thomas Paine, "The Crisis", December 23 1776)

Entry #27 of True American Pride Month. Another classic, soul-stirring set of words that inspire me every time I read them. Thomas Paine wrote them at the lowest, darkest moments of the American Revolution when all seemed lost for the colonists. Earlier in 1776, Paine had written an even more stirring pamphlet, "Common Sense" which laid out an eloquent argument that Americans had a unique opportunity to change the course of history by creating a new sort of government in which people were free and had the power to rule themselves. "Common Sense" was the first truly "viral" publication in our American history.

And so I remember Paine's words, especially during these current trying times. Sometimes the trials are national and large in scale; sometimes they are small and daily. But no matter the "crisis", it is a true American virtue worth remembering and practicing: do not shrink from the "trouble" or "suffering". True Americans...true individuals...stand tall...and remember the gifts they have been given. God Bless America.